Oculomotor paralyses in the course of diabetes--concerning 12 cases

PURPOSE: Our purpose is to study the clinical features of the oculomotor paralyses in the course of the diabetes, to assess the risk factors and to show the importance of the diagnosis and the cerebral imaging. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We report a series of 12 diabetic patients with OMP collected at the department of ophthalmology in UHC Ibn Rochd in Casablanca between 1995 and 1998. RESULT: Our study was about 9 men and 3 women, the mean age was 58 years 6 months. The diabetes was type I in 2 cases and type II in 10 cases. All the patients complained of diplopia with headache. The paralysis of VI has been noticed in 8 cases, it was bilateral in 5 cases. Unilateral Ill palsy occurred in 4 cases. Brain computed tomography was normal in 10 cases and pathologic in 2 cases. Treatment consisted in alternating occlusion in all patients. Concomitance was achieved, after 4 to 6 months of treatment. CONCLUSION: The metabolic abnormalities due to hyperglycemia and the ischemic phenomena due to the diabetic macroangiopathy explain these palsies.